c5 – The Will of a Best Friend
Just as Madara was still lost in thought, tormented by the unbearable solitude of a world far removed from his own, a small dog-like presence skulked around the staircase and quietly observed him.
Uchiha Madara turned his head sharply, his voice frosty.
"Go away, brat."
But Gion didn't budge. She had fully committed to her strategy of psychological warfare. As far as she was concerned, this dangerous, stone-faced Uchiha wolf was going to fall for her even if she had to dress it up as diplomacy or, more likely, dramatic overacting under a metaphorical (or literal) princess skirt.
"Master~ Aren't you lonely by yourself?"
Madara clenched his jaw. I was reminiscing about a life that, despite its tragic end, was still legendary and now you show up again with that ridiculous title? He took a breath. It wouldn't help to keep flaring up. After all, it seemed this girl would keep pestering him until he gave her something.
"…A little. Do you want to hear a story?"
Gion's eyes sparkled. "Whoa, whoa, no one's told me a story since I was ten!"
Madara's eye twitched, but he began speaking anyway.
"Where I'm from… war was constant. My father, my brothers, my clansmen all died. Betrayal was common. I even killed my best friend… and lost everything except my ambition."
"Our world had… interesting customs."
Gion blinked, intrigued despite Madara's total lack of narrative tone. Still better than listening to Akainu ramble about justice, she thought.
"What customs?"
"We fight our closest friends… and kill them. We train together, eat together, and then battle to the death. Siblings, disciples, comrades doesn't matter. Conflict defines us."
"In that sense, my best friend's will… far surpassed mine."
Gion was visibly baffled. So all of Wano is just full of emotionally unstable knife-wielders? she thought, but stayed quiet.
Madara smirked and continued, seeing her stunned.
"My best friend's will was called the Will of Fire. The one who inherited it became Hokage. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, passed it on to three disciples: one avoided him, one disdained him, and one… just wanted him to retire."
Gion tilted her head. "Isn't the last one kind of sweet?"
Madara chuckled darkly.
"Hiruzen exiled that 'sweet' disciple Orochimaru. He returned decades later, politely called Hiruzen 'master' and then orchestrated his death during the Chūnin Exams."
Gion: …...
"Jiraiya the one who avoided Hiruzen trusted talking toads to find a prophecy kid. Took on students. One of them stabbed him six times and left his body to rot at the bottom of the sea."
Gion: …...
"Then that student, Nagato, passed his will to Naruto, the Fourth Hokage's son. But backtrack Naruto's father, Minato, was killed by his own student, Obito. The same Obito who also caused the death of Hiruzen's wife."
Gion: …...
"Orochimaru later trained a girl named Anko. She got traumatized. He then took in Sasuke, who killed his older brother Itachi who, by the way, murdered their parents. Then Orochimaru got killed by Sasuke, resurrected, and started doing medical internships or something. So yes inheritance."
Gion: …It's nice how they're keeping it in the family. Like a murder chain of succession.
Madara leaned in, voice low and conspiratorial.
"Want to hear a secret? I was originally supposed to be the First Hokage."
Gion: Are you insane?
"But I refused. Why? Because I foresaw the pattern. Disciples always kill their teachers. So I made a vow if I ever took on disciples, I'd kill them first."
Madara looked at her sideways, menace laced in amusement.
Gion responded immediately, dramatically wiping fake tears from her eyes.
"Woooow~ that's… so moving!" (╥﹏╥)
Madara: ...
He had prepared himself for every possible reaction terror, defiance, skepticism, even pity but this… this was a new one.
Was what I said actually… touching?
"You… little devil…"
He turned his back abruptly, unsure how to respond. Gion sat behind him, still "moved," dabbing imaginary tears.
About five minutes later, Gion stood and walked away without a word. Madara, sensing her departure, smirked faintly. Hmph. Typical kid no patience. Ignore them long enough and they get bored.
Still… he didn't quite hate her company.
At the same time, Madara thought inwardly: If this were Hashirama or Izuna when they were young, they would never give up after just a few minutes. They'd train relentlessly, challenge me, maybe even bicker but they'd never run away like this little devil.
Meanwhile, Gion had already left the rooftop and was jogging at full speed toward the medical department. She kicked open the door, startling several nurses, and began rummaging through the weapon lockers like a determined squirrel.
Sengoku looked up from his paperwork and gave a slight smile, noticing her frantic energy.
"Little Gion, what are you looking for?"
Gion beamed, her expression bright and mischievous.
"I'm looking for my sword!"
Sengoku chuckled, misunderstanding completely.
"Ah, I see! So Madara has agreed to take you in as a disciple? Is he finally ready to train you properly?" His tone was light, but there was genuine relief in it. He immediately handed over his ceremonial command sword without hesitation.
Gion accepted it with an angelic smile and replied sweetly, eyes sparkling with deadly intent:
"Nope! Master told me to kill him!"
Sengoku: "???"
But before he could protest or even process the madness, Gion was already bolting up the stairs again, sword in hand, heading straight for the rooftop like a storm in uniform. The pitiful apprentice act was gone, and now came version 2.0 strict master, intense trial, and a bold new training plan.
Back on the rooftop, Uchiha Madara sat cross-legged, deep in thought. What now? he wondered. Even if I've returned to the living, what do I really want? The Eye of the Moon Plan is defunct, Kaguya is sealed, and peace however flawed has been achieved.
His thoughts drifted to Hashirama again. The man's laugh, his absurd dream of unity… the Tree Climbing training… their duels by the river.
Suddenly, Madara's ears twitched. Someone was coming. The footsteps was it that little devil again?
He quickly sat upright, cautiously peering out. Sure enough, Gion was charging forward with a blade nearly as tall as herself, eyes blazing with excitement.
Madara's brow twitched. Why is she so happy? What's that in her hand?!
Gion spotted him, grinned widely, and raised her weapon in both hands.
"Master! Prepare to dieeeeeee !"
Madara: …Did this gremlin forget her brain somewhere?!
She leapt high into the air, landing dramatically on the handrail of the rooftop staircase, one leg perched like a kabuki performer. Her spiritual energy surged. Madara could sense it now Haki mixed with Kenbunshoku focus and a budding mastery of swordsmanship.
Interesting, he thought. She's channeling power like one of Wano's top samurai.
The blade hummed as she drew it slightly from its sheath, letting out a high-pitched cry. She disappeared with Soru the CP9 high-speed movement technique and reappeared mid-air, lunging toward Madara with all her might.
"I am the successor of the Will of Fire! Take this! Sword of Filial Betrayal and Patriarchal Justice Slash!!!"
Madara, who had been preparing to scoff, froze for a full second, then stopped the incoming blade with two fingers.
Gion hung in the air like a captured kitten, her blade completely immobilized.
"…You little idiot," Madara muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Gion pouted and tried her best to look remorseful, cheeks puffed slightly.
"Hehehe… Master, maybe I was a little enthusiastic? How about another chance? I'm still young, you know! I can endure decades of hardship! (●'◡'●)"
Madara's expression darkened with every word. Gion started sweating under the pressure of his aura it was like standing in front of Kaido with a hangover.
Oh no… maybe I overdid it… she thought, chucking the command sword at his feet like a peace offering and bolting away on frantic legs, vanishing down the stairs.
Madara remained still, glancing down at the ornate navy-issued command sword in his hand.
He exhaled slowly. The chaos was finally over. He would have a few moments of peace again.
Then, without even realizing it, the corners of his mouth quietly curled upward.
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